Fastening device



Filed June 16, 1943 A/AJ . INV TORS [Zr/5' 19/1 rcwo' for sake'of example, we will, throughout closure, refer to the device as applied to work comprising two elements. an inner element and -25 FW- 1 sh w n the work finally clamped ti h y in the' case of bolts and rivets.

Another object of. this invention is to provide a fastening devicewhich operates to draw the 4 work together, that is, to. slraw,jhe'elementsof "the work up to ether i the course of "ap ication of the device, so that the work'ishe'ldtight when the device takes itsfliial' position.

Patented Oct 16, 19 45 UNITE" STATES FASTENING nnvfcaf Earle B. Andrews and Lionel H. Steans, 1

' L08 AMER! Calif.

Application June 1c, 1943, Serial No. saossz 120mm. (Qua-2v This invention reiatesto a fastening devicefor use where rivets, bolts and like fasteners are commonly used. It is a general object of this invention to provide a fastening device of the general character referred tothat is extremely simple of manufacture and also of use, and which is e'ifec-' -tive as a holding device and extremely inexpensive of manufacture. I The device provided by this invention is use-'- -vibration or other cause such as. frequently re- I suit in failure of bplted'sections: y

. Another object of the invention is to provide a slmp'lefpractical and effective device usefulfor application to, a work element to. serve as a means for attaching an object to that element.

It is a further objector this invention to provide a [device of the character mentioned with a 2 safety lock which automatically/ engages when -m1. invarious situations. For instance, it may 10 the. prim ry l k moves int op n posi on,

be usedfor applying one part to another, or Y for joining or' tying together twb parts, such for example as two sheets or bodies of material;

Its most general and common use is probably in connection with work. which comprises twoor more parts or elements to-be joined, and which require a fastening device such as has'the generai characteristics of {rivet or abolt. It is to be understood that when were fer to the work to which the present device can'be applied we do not-- so co mdrawmg, in which: limit the use of the device to any particular material, number of parts, or. such details. Howey an outer element, required to be joined or tied together. J

An object of our invention is to provide a'fas tening device of the general character ireferred I to which is extremely simple ofconstruction.

The device of the present invention is an integral or one-piece structurev that requires very little work inits formation and whic h is suited for quantity production. I

-. Another object of this invention is to provide a fastening device of the character mentioned operable from one end or from the outer face of the outermost element of the work. with the device of the present) invention it is unnecessary to=employ a nut orbacking-up tool or other"v device at the inner side of the W811i, as is common the safety lock acting so that the device can only Que released by positive and deliberate operation and cannot under any circumstances be dislodged accidentally 15 Thevarious o iects and features of our invention will. be f' understood from the follow-* ing'Ldetailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of' the, invention, throughout which description reference is made to the ac- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a fastening deing shown insection. Fig, 2 is a view similarvto the device, showing the primary and safety-locks both in full operative position; 3 is a view taken as indicated by line 3-4 on Fig. 2. Fig. 4

is a views similar to Fig, 1' showing a modified 30 'form of ;construction embodying features of the .present invention. -Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing theform of the invention illus- 'trated in Fig. 4+, and Fig"; 6 is aview illustrating a modified form of the invention having-addi- 35 'tional parts "applied-thereto, as will be herelniarm described.

The safety device provided by our invention is shownjin connection with work comprising what we will term an inner element I0 and an 4o outer element l I which work elements are required to be drawn tight together and be clampedin such position as shown in Fig. g of the'di'awing.

"I'hedevice of the present invention. includes,

' generally,- a body or shank II, a head 13 on'the 5 outer end of the shank to-engage the'outer work elementl I, means on the shank whereby the elements of the work are'brbught tight together as the device is applied thereto, primary lock means ii for holding the work in clamped position when Amulet 0mm; h invention t9 P on the device is operated tothe final position, and

a fastening device of the character mentioned which invo ves a primary-lock operatedby' reason safety lock means It supplementing the primary lock means providing a double lock for the device, so that it cannot, under any circumstances, become accidentally-dislodged or disengaged.-

work locked together against separation due -to so The shank I! of the device is an elongate structhread-like grooves in the work. It is to'beun- .split or divided longitudinally from its inner end toa point at or close to its outer end in order to form it into two spaced legs ll. The split or biiurcation is such, and the material out of which the'device is formed is such as to give the 8 resiliencytsuflicient to allow them to be contracted or sprung together as the device is applied to the work in the manner shown in Fig. 1. It will be obvious that the exact length, size and proportioning of the cut or slot i 9 provided in-the shank to form the spaced legs l8 may, in practice, vary widely, depending upon the proportloning oi the device, the material outof which it is formed, and various like factors.

The head Wis formed integral with the outer end or the shank II. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs-l and 2 the head is shown round and provided .with a screw-driver slot 20 so that it resembles, generally, the head of a round-headed screw. The-head, in practice, is made suniciently large and is soshaped and flnished sis'to present a clamping face or shoulder -2l designed to engage the outer surface of the outer work element i l A The means ll provided on the shank 12 for drawing the work elements tightly together is preferably in the form of a helically pitched or thread-like tooth on the shank, or on a part formed thereon. In the preferred forin of the invention, as shown in Fig. 1, there .is a tooth aesment 23 on each leg of the shank and each tooth segment is formed so that it' projects from the shank and is sharp in order to cut its way through the work elements as will be hereinafter described. In the particular instance illustrated the tooth elements 23 are not iormed directly on the shank but are formed on the primary lock means,

.as will be hereinafter described Howeven'since the partsare formed integrally it may be considered that the tooth elements are in reality carriedon or by the legs of the shank, the actual construct-1m being that they are so carried' through the medium of thelock lugs hereinafter I referred to.

when the device is appliedto the work, thatis,

when it is started through the outer element H of the work, the extreme outer end portions of the legs are guided into the contracted position so that they enter the opening in the element ii until the law. segments 23 engage the work. Continued application the device, that is; pressure of the device against the work and turning of it causes the teeth to out into the .work and, inelfect, thread themselves through the work.. In Fig. l the device is shown partially applied, in which case the teeth have cut completely through the outer element ii of the work and are partially through the inner "element. For the purpose or illustration the teeth are 'shown fairly large and as though they have out definite derstood, in practice, that the teeth may: be smaller, it merely being sumcient to provide teeth work in a manner to finally bring the work to the position showninl'lg. 2. As the device is applied to the work, if the two work elements are apart, theheadil will.nnally" 'bear on the outer work element l|,-.aitcr' which continued rotation oithedcvieecausesthoinnerworkelement llto 1 be :drswn to the outerwork element.

asso oaa preferably in the form of lugs'lll' proiecting.

. outwardly or radially from the outer end portion are integral with the legs and, as above described, the teeth 23 are in turn formed integrally on the outer surfaces of the lugs. The shoulders ll of theuugs are related or spaced relative to the shoulder 2i 0! the head l3 so that'when the work of each leg to present shoulders 3|. The lugs 1|.

elements reach the finally tight position shown in Fig. 2 the lugs are beyond or out of the opening H of the inner work element I0. allowing the shoulders 3l to engage behind and bear against the inner surface 33 of the. inner work element M, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The lugs 30 are moved into active or out position, shown in Fig. 2, by reason of the resiliency of the, shank which tends to normally hold the legs in the position showninFig. 2.

The safety lock means supplements the locklegs ll of the shank apart, as shown in Fig. 2. The safety lock preferably includes a spreader or tongue 40 projecting from one leg I. of the shank eqto cooperate with a shoulder ll on the other leg.

as shown in Fig. 2. The shoulder 4|. is formed by.

portion of the notched leg 8.

Thetonsue 4| acts like aleai spring or spring latch and its length is related to the shoulder ll ing action of the lugs 30 by positively holding the it normally bears inward! against'the outer end so that when the device reaches the fully engaged the notch 42 to engage the shoulder ii. To disnsage the device after it has been thus lockedvby.

position, as shown in Fig. 2, the tongue drops into the safety lock it is, necessary to'positively and In the modified form of the invention shown in V Fig. 4 the shank I! has spaced legs I! and the head it' instead of being a notched round head is more in the nature of the head of a common be engaged by a wrench. In this form of the invention the means provided for drawing the work elements together may be in the nature of teeth ward of.

23* on the outer suriaces ofthe legs the primary lock. In the particular ase illustrated two teeth 23" are provided on each legand.

"andthus aid in holding it in plat ns will be apparent irom Figs. 5 and 6 of .the drawing.

bolt. It may, in practice, be hexagonalincross sectional configuration so that it is designed-tov by being located inward of the. primary lock means the teeth remain in engagement with the work The safety lock means it provided-in this form of the invention is in the nature oi'a spreader applied to the work after the primary lock means has become engaged.

The spreader is in the nature of a screw element Ill having a conical head Ii to change between the outer ends of the legs i8 and having a .threaded portion 52 engaged in a threaded Op n- In the case iii m tants-ah head II has an .extsnsion or portion I! which serves as a means'by which'a part I] may be attachodto the device; as by welding N, or thelike. Further, the spreader," in this case projects in: in the onter end of the shank and inches! applied to the parts It and II as a means for gages to hold the work elements l ,and II together and thereafter the spreader Ill and, if desired, addedLparts-such as the part 80, can be fastened to the work by means of the spreader and can be locked there by means of the lock nutfl.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, is 'particularly adapted to use in con nection withsoft materials, such as plastics or soft' metals.

Having described only typicaltpreferred forms aseaess J and applications of our invention, we do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein. set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves,

any variations or modifications that may appear to those skllled'inthe art or fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described ourinvention, we claim:

apart and in position where the lock is engaged to hold the device in the work.

- 5. A one-piece fastening device of the character described including, a shank including spaced legs to extend through work to be fastened, ahead on the outer end of the shank, a lock on the inner end of the shankto prevent'disen'galgement of the device from the work, and a safety lock holding the legs in position where the lock is engaged tohold the device in the work, the safety lock with the other leg.

6. a fastening device of the character described including, a shank'including spaced legs to extend through work to be fastened, a head on the outer end of the shank, a lock on the inner end of the shank to prevent disengagement of the device from the work, anda tongue on one leg to cooperate witha shoulderon the other leg to hold the legs apart with the lock engaged.

7. A fastening device of the character described including, a shank including spaced legs to extendthrough work to be fastened, a head on the outer end of the shank, a lock on the inner end of the shank to prevent disengagement of the device from the work, and means for holding the legs with the lock engaged including a spreader 1. A screw-type fastening device .of the character described including, -ashank including spaced legs to extend through inner and outer work parts to be fastened together, a head on the outer end of the shank having means to be engaged by a-tool for rotating the shank, helicallye pitchedparts projecting from the exterior of the legs and confined to the inner end' portiom of the legs to have thread-like engagement with themner work part whereby the work parts are drawn together by rotation of the 1 device, and a lock shoulder on the inner end of the shank to pre'- tent disengagement of the device from the work parts. v a I 2. Ascrew-type fastening device of the .character described including, a shank includin I spaced legs to extend through inner and outer work parts to be fastened together, a head on the outer end 'of the shaped to be engaged and, rotated by a tool, pitched thread-like teeth .con-

fined to the inner end portion of the shank and the spreader to proi ecting outwardly from the legs to have threadlike engagement with the inner work part whereby the work parts are drawn together by rotation of the device, and .a-lock shoulder on the inner end of the shank to prevent. disengagement oi the device from the work parts. Q

3. A screw-type one-piece fastening device of the character described including, a shank including spaced legs to extend through inner and outer work parts to be fastened together, a head on the outer end of the shank to be engaged by I a tool'for rotation, a helically pitched tooth on the exterior of each leg located to have threadlike engagement with the inner work part, and a lock on the inner end of the shank to prevent disengagement of the device from the work including a lug oneach leg, the-lugs being-located inward beyond. the teeth and havingoutwardly facing shoulders to engage the inner-work part. c 4. A one-piece fastening device of the charactei' described including, a shank including spaced legs to extend through work .to be fastened, a

head on the outer end of theshank, a lock on the inner end of the shank to prevent disengagement of the device from the work, and a safety.

lock en aged between the legs holding th l s. 7 spaced legs to extend'through work tobefas- ,threaded totheshank and engaged between the legs. v 8. A fasteningdeviceofthe character described including, a shank including spaced legs to extend through work to be fastened, a head on the outer end of the-shank, a lock on the inner end of theshank to prevent disengagement of the device from the work, and means for holding the legs with the lock engaged including a spreader engaged between the legs, means securing the spreader in engagement with the legs, the'spreader having a projection to receive a second work element.

9. A fastening deviceincluding -an .,elong ate shank having two spaced legs, a head on the shank, there being an opening longitudinally through the shank and head, lugs on the-legs to lock the device to'the' work, a spreader for the legs extending through the opening, a head 'on age the legs, and a nut .on

the spreader to engage the first mentioned head.

.10. A fastening device including an elongate shank havingtwo spacedlegs, a head on the shank, there' being an opening ,lon i through the thank and head, lugs on the legs extending through the. opening. a head .on'

the spreader to engage the-legs, and a nut on the spreader to engage the first mentioned head. 11. A screw-type fastening device'of the char Y acter described including, a shank "includin spaced legs to extend through work to be fas tened, a head on the outer end of the shank'having means to be engaged bya tool for rotating the shank, pitched partsproiecting from the exj terior of the legs and confined to the inner end portionof the legs whereby elements of the work are drawn together by rotation of the device, a

lock shoulder on the inner end of the shankto prevent disengagement-of the device from the work, and means permanently associated with the inner end portion of the shank when in assembled position holding thelegs apart with the .shoulder in cooperative engagement withethe a 1,1 2- A screw-type fastening device of the character described including. a shank including including a tongue on one leg cooperating I .7 Y I legs to lock .the devlceto the work, a spreader for the- 4 I a,as 'o,o'32 tuned; a head outerend of the shank" shank to prevent disengagement a: the device ehapedto be engaged and rotated a. tool, 'from therwork, gnd anelementintegral with one,

, pitched thread-like teeth confined tm e inner leg, ennslns the other leg, and acting between em! portion .01 the thank and projectinz oat: the legs to hold them apart with the shoulder in wardly from the ieerwhere'by elements ot the 6 poaitiontoengage the work. i work ere drown toiethervbyrotatlon of the der I EARLE R. vice, a lock shoulder on the inner end of the LIONEL'H. B'I'EANB. 

